title: Effect of the Go4it multidisciplinary group treatment for obese adolescents on health related quality of life: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We developed a Dutch outpatient multidisciplinary group treatment (Go4it) for obese adolescents, including cognitive behavioural therapy and education on healthy dietary and physical activity behaviour. This study examined the effect of Go4it on Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL).
  
  
  METHODS
  At our outpatient paediatric obesity clinic, obese adolescents (n = 122, 11-18 years) were randomly assigned to 1) Go4it, 7 sessions with an interval of 2 weeks or 2) current regular care consisting of referral to a dietician in the home care setting (controls). Linear mixed model analysis was performed to evaluate the intervention effects on HRQoL at 6 and 18-month follow-ups. HRQoL indicators included the Child Health Questionnaire, the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Version 4.0 (PedsQL™4.0), and the Body Esteem Scale (BES).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 95 adolescents (Go4it 57, controls 38) were included in the current analysis with a mean age of 14.5 ± 1.7 and mean BMI-SDS of 2.9 ± 0.5. At baseline, all participants experienced lower levels of physical and psychosocial well-being compared to a normal weight reference group. At the 18 month follow-up, we found small but beneficial intervention effects on all subscales of the PedsQL™4.0 and BES questionnaires. Two subscales improved significantly; i.e., physical health (between group difference 5.4; 95%CI: 0.3; 10.6), and school functioning (between group difference 7.4; 95%CI: 1.6; 13.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obese adolescents experienced lower HRQoL than their healthy peers. The Go4it intervention had small beneficial effects on HRQoL compared to the current regular care practices for obese adolescents.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Netherlands Trial Register: ISRCTN27626398, METC number: 05.134 (WMO, monocenter).
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, HV 1081, The Netherlands. A.Hofsteenge@vumc.nl.
authors.forename: Geesje H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Hofsteenge
authors.forename: Peter J M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Weijs
authors.forename: Henriette A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Delemarre-van de Waal
authors.forename: Maartje
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Wit
authors.forename: Mai J M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chinapaw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult